Martin Lel

Martin Lel Kiptoo (born 29 October 1978) is a Kenyan long- distance runner who specializes in the marathon.

He was second in the Venice Marathon 2002.

The following year he was third in the first Boston Marathon and then won at the World Half Marathon Championships in Vilamoura in 1:00:49 h and at the New York City Marathon in 2:10:30 h

The most successful so far, however, he was the London Marathon. In 2005 he won in 2:07:26 hours, over two and a half minutes with his then- best time, and in 2006 he was just there in 2:06:41 h second with two seconds behind Felix Limo.

In 2007 he won both the London Marathon in 2:07:41 h as well as the New York City Marathon in 2:09:04 h In both races, he referred Abderrahim Goumri to second place.

In 2008 he won for the third time in London with the course record of 2:05:15 h He is the fourth fastest runner on the 42,195 -km distance (as at end March 2009). At the Olympic Games in Beijing, he finished fifth in a time of 2:10:24 h With these successes he secured the victory at the World Marathon Majors Series 2007/08.

In 2009, he won for the third time after 2003 and 2006 at the Lisbon Half Marathon and the second time after 2007 at the Great North Run.